diff --git a/command_prompt.py b/command_prompt.py
index 99f28f0..170c0cb 100644
--- a/command_prompt.py
+++ b/command_prompt.py
@@ -295,66 +295,72 @@ class Command_prompt(Label):
         # parse command line
         self.parse_argv()
 
+        # single letter commands (which can be combined)
         # write
         if self.argv[0]=="w" or self.argv[0]=="w!" or self.argv[0]=="wq":
-            if len(self.argv)>2:
-                self.message="error: could not write to file: too many arguments -- usage: ':w [path to file]'"
-                return
-            elif len(self.argv)==1:
-                if self.app.openfile!="":
-                    if self.app.readonly:
-                        self.message="error: open file is readonly"
-                        return
-                    self.app.painter.write(self.app.openfile)
-                    return
-                else:
-                    self.message="error: no file is open for editing, specify a path"
-                    return
-
-            (ret,self.message)=filecheck.check_write(self.argv[1],self.argv[0]=="w!")
-            # add comment if no overwrite
-            if ret==-2:
-                self.message+=" (use ':w!' to overwrite)"
-            if ret<0:
-                return
-
-            self.app.openfile=self.argv[1]
-            self.app.readonly=False
-            self.app.painter.write(self.argv[1])
-            # update status bar
-            self.app.status_bar.draw()
-
+            self.run_write(self.argv)
         # edit file
         if self.argv[0]=="e":
-            if len(self.argv)>2:
-                self.message="error: could not open file: too many arguments -- usage: ':e <path to file>'"
-                return
-            elif len(self.argv)==1:
-                self.message="error: could not open file: no argument found -- usage: ':e <path to file>'"
-                return
-
-            # check that the file can be edited
-            (ret,self.message)=filecheck.check_edit(self.argv[1])
-            # error
-            if ret<0:
-                return
-
-            if os.path.isfile(self.argv[1]):
-                # read the file
-                self.app.painter.read(self.argv[1])
-                # set readonly mode
-                self.app.readonly=not os.access(self.argv[1],os.W_OK)
-            else:
-                # new file, reset painter
-                self.app.painter.reset()
-                self.app.readonly=False
-
-            # select openfile in app
-            self.app.openfile=self.argv[1]
-            # update status bar
-            self.app.status_bar.draw()
-
+            self.run_edit(self.argv)
         # quit
         if self.argv[0]=="q" or self.argv=="wq":
             self.app.stop()
 
+    # wrie to file
+    def run_write(self,argv):
+        if len(argv)>2:
+            self.message="error: could not write to file: too many arguments -- usage: ':w [path to file]'"
+            return
+        elif len(argv)==1:
+            if self.app.openfile!="":
+                if self.app.readonly:
+                    self.message="error: open file is readonly"
+                    return
+                self.app.painter.write(self.app.openfile)
+                return
+            else:
+                self.message="error: no file is open for editing, specify a path"
+                return
+
+        (ret,self.message)=filecheck.check_write(argv[1],argv[0]=="w!")
+        # add comment if no overwrite
+        if ret==-2:
+            self.message+=" (use ':w!' to overwrite)"
+        if ret<0:
+            return
+
+        self.app.openfile=argv[1]
+        self.app.readonly=False
+        self.app.painter.write(argv[1])
+        # update status bar
+        self.app.status_bar.draw()
+
+    def run_edit(self,argv):
+        if len(argv)>2:
+            self.message="error: could not open file: too many arguments -- usage: ':e <path to file>'"
+            return
+        elif len(argv)==1:
+            self.message="error: could not open file: no argument found -- usage: ':e <path to file>'"
+            return
+
+        # check that the file can be edited
+        (ret,self.message)=filecheck.check_edit(argv[1])
+        # error
+        if ret<0:
+            return
+
+        if os.path.isfile(argv[1]):
+            # read the file
+            self.app.painter.read(argv[1])
+            # set readonly mode
+            self.app.readonly=not os.access(argv[1],os.W_OK)
+        else:
+            # new file, reset painter
+            self.app.painter.reset()
+            self.app.readonly=False
+
+        # select openfile in app
+        self.app.openfile=argv[1]
+        # update status bar
+        self.app.status_bar.draw()
+